​The Cardinals have undeniably been one of MLB’s feel-good stories in the early portion of what was intended to be a rebuilding season loaded with obstacles, yet their advancement and growth must still be measured against a Brewers squad that has been a relentless force in the NL Central. Heading into Monday, St. Louis carried momentum from road series wins against the Braves and Cubs, but Milwaukee appeared unfazed, methodically outplaying the Cardinals across the last four days in every facet of the game.
The Thursday night 8-4 defeat, the fourth loss in five games at Busch Stadium and the eighth defeat in 10 meetings with Milwaukee in 2026, served as a stern reminder of how much progress remains for a young, spirited Cardinals club hopeful to become championship contenders again in the coming years. Milwaukee cashed in with come-from-behind wins in the series opener before convincingly taking the second game 10-2 on Tuesday. The Cards did rally for a 5-1 victory on Wednesday, yet the Brewers answered early on Thursday, sending a clear message that they remain the team to beat in the NL Central for a third consecutive season.
By the time Milwaukee finished, St. Louis found itself 10 ½ games back in the division, further behind Chicago than they were when they left Chicago on Sunday night, and still mired in the chase for a Wild Card spot. Looking ahead, the Cardinals are set for a three-game series with the Braves, whom they beat twice in three games last week. Having stumbled at an inopportune moment against Milwaukee, the Cardinals’ ability to hold their own against Atlanta over the next three days could influence how president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom approaches the MLB Trade Deadline on August 3.
Jordan Walker, named a participant in the Home Run Derby on Thursday, continued to be a bright spot for the Cardinals, belting a three-run homer into the second-deck seats in left field. That blast pushed his season total to 22 big flies and kept him atop the league in RBIs with 73. After Walker’s three-run shot pulled St. Louis within 6-4, Brice Turang answered with a solo homer to center off Luis Gastelum. The rookie reliever, who made his MLB debut on Wednesday, notched his first major-league strikeout in the sixth inning by throwing his wipeout changeup. Yet on a 3-2 count in the seventh, Turang punished the fastball to push the score to 7-4.
Walker again stood at the plate in the eighth, looking for another three-run shot to tie it, but Aaron Ashby snapped him up with a breaking ball that Walker chased for a key strikeout. By then, the Brewers had jumped out to a commanding lead well before three innings had elapsed, logging seven hits and a 6-0 edge. The Brewers’ feisty lineup rattled Cardinals starter Andre Pallante, who could not find a way to settle into a groove as Milwaukee continued to impose its will on the game.